Geelong will not overpay for Travis Boak

GEELONG will not pay over the odds for Travis Boak even if the Port Adelaide midfielder declares his desire to join the Cats.

Travis Boak

GEELONG will not pay over the odds for out-of-contract star Travis Boak even if the Port Adelaide midfielder declares his desire to join the Cats.

Boak, 23, has put off contract negotiations with the Power until season's end, intensifying speculation he will seek a trade to return home to Victoria.

Geelong, which has already declared an interest in Boak, would appear the frontrunner to secure the services of the former Geelong Falcon, but other Victorian clubs are also expected to make a play.

Cats coach Chris Scott said any recruit would have to accept the club's policy of not overpaying players.

Scott declared that any potential recruit "probably should look elsewhere" if they hoped to join the Cats on a lucrative deal.

Several Cats premiership players have been paid below market value for years to remain together in the pursuit of team success.

"It's really important that we respect the players that have been champions of our club and if a player comes into the Geelong footy club from another club in the AFL, they've got to fit within our pay structure," Scott said.

"So if anyone thinks that they can come in here and get top dollar and come in over the top of our really good players, then they probably should look elsewhere."

Boak, who was a tied winner of the Power's best and fairest last year, returned home to the Surf Coast last week to discuss his playing future with his family and management.